Ceraphina
Really gripping and captivating. Bullying rates, especially since early 2000s with a modern precedent of being online and social media, have been astronomically high. This book tackled this issue well and especially around bullying stemmed from sexually related experiences and something as innocent of having a period. It's depressing, down right depressing and excruciating knowing so many kids have very little resources or safe outlets to overcome and start the healing process for bullying that they go through. If at the very least we can get media pertaining around being bullied they can maybe, just maybe feel a little less alone during it all.
If you're looking for a book that discusses these topics for yourself or teens in your life - this is a great one to reach for.
I wanted to DNF this literally from the start. I don't own the book anymore so unfortunately I can't grab the exact quote but it was what said when our MC was describing the homeless people. I believe it was just one maybe two sentences but I just got an ick. My partner convinced me to keep going in this - though he never read it. He just knows I'm quick to snappy book decisions and I had just DNF'd a previous 4 books in a row prior to this one.
So, I read it. I didn't actively hate it - I enjoyed a story line of a devoted and desperate father to find his daughter. But overall was a flat and unremarkable read for me.
I'm always willing to broaden the scope of topics I read and pick up. It was a “newer” release when I got to it from my library so there weren't that many reviews at the time. Hindsight would've worked well in my favor here so I could have read some in depth reviews and decided stronger that this wasn't going to be for me.
I've had a really strong past read from Becky Chambers novella “To Be Taught if Fortunate” I consider it a favorite.
I didn't get along with the first book in her main series she's best known for and my reading experience was very similar with this one. Different stories but the tone so similar.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built felt overly child-like and whimsical. A pandering moral children story. I prefer books with such clear messages to be a bit more nuanced and less spoon fed when its marketed for an older audience. I really liked the concept of this but went too far in that direction that this slim novel went on too long for me.
Perhaps closer to a 3 but rounding up. I think the author graciously maneuvered with her writing on having emotional elements but without going over in terms of clear manipulation in pulling on your heart strings. I felt invested in the outcomes. This book would be easy to recommend to many people, especially people who don't read a lot or are newer to reading.
It's quite lengthy but I think rather than that being a hindrance to this book, it worked in its favor. I really enjoyed being sucked up into this world. The writing flowed and whether a good/bad character I felt like they were fleshed out, many motives being laid cleared. And when it all came together it was a successful and rewarding read.
I find it hard to get into fiction that's about drugs. Mostly because I've been around it all my life - my father having multiple different types of addiction ever since I could remember. I don't find it triggering but rather just... annoying. Eye rolling. That sort of thing. I'm big on escapism if I'm picking up a fiction. But I liked the cadence in this novel and didn't feel like it “tried too hard” to prove something one way or another. Writing style was good too. If novels about drugs/addiction don't bother you I really recommend this one.
